In the 2012 class, the Buckeyes have already secured a pair of verbal commitments from outstanding in-state running backs Warren Ball and Bri'onte Dunn. You can never have too many good backs and because of that, the Ohio State staff is already scouring the nation for some of the top talent in the 2013 class. One of the best backs nationally looks to be Richmond (Va.) Hermitage product, Derrick Green. The 6-foot, 220-pound bruiser is already on the radar of some premier programs.

"Ohio State, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Alabama," said Green, when asked which schools have expressed interest.

Ohio State is no stranger to Hermitage high school, the Buckeyes pulled the nation's top linebacker prospect, Curtis Grant, out of Hermitage just over a month ago and the interest is definitely mutual on Green's end of things.

"They have a great academic program," he explained, when asked what he knew about Ohio State. "The offense they run is kind of like the offense we run at Hermitage and it's just a great atmosphere."

Playing alongside a player of Grant's caliber was a major positive for Green and he credits Grant for helping to show him the ropes.

"It was a great experience," he said. "Anytime you needed help Curtis was right there to pick you up. He taught me a lot about the recruiting process, things to do and not to do and stuff to look out for."

After rushing for over 700 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, Green knows the expectations will be raised for his junior season and he's ready to accept that challenge.

"I want to get like 30 touchdowns and run for 1,500 yards," he said. "I just want to make sure I go all out and help my team make it to (the state playoffs)."

Before his junior season gets going, Green will be hitting the summer camp circuit hard as he already has plans to get to five team camps at some of the nation's best programs.

"I'm going back to the Ohio State camp," he explained. "I'm also going to Alabama, South Carolina, Penn State, and Virginia Tech."

Green impressed the Ohio State coaches this past June with his camp performance and he's hoping to improve upon that performance this summer.

"I'm looking to show them my speed and the way that I can catch out of the backfield," Green said.